What does stereo recording achieve? I noticed that the left and right channels of some stereo samples don't sound the same, and loaded them into audacity. The program confirms my suspicion that the sounds vary greatly in characteristics. For a vibrato filled note, most often only one of the channels displays the wavy pattern induced by the vibrato. Is this what stereo recording is supposed to do? So the sounds mixed into your music will have certain instruments placed to the L/R side of the listener?

What does stereo recording achieve? I noticed that the left and right channels of some stereo samples don't sound the same, and loaded them into audacity. The program confirms my suspicion that the sounds vary greatly in characteristics. For a vibrato filled note, most often only one of the channels displays the wavy pattern induced by the vibrato. Is this what stereo recording is supposed to do? So the sounds mixed into your music will have certain instruments placed to the L/R side of the listener?

Much of what you get in popular recordings is more accurately described as multi channel mono from multi-track with artificial reverb. These can be very pleasing. In a true stereo recording you're getting the room reflections and 'ambience'. I have some London / Decca recordings that are true stereo and are excellent.

BTW when the left and right channels sound the same, it's mono.

In my opinion much of what was 'wrong' with recordings were the limitations of the LP. Low frequency mono mix, 30 Hz high pass, restricted separation all to avoid skipping. Digital recording has no such limitations. In theory down to DC, no interchannel phase restrictions, no spectral limits because of EQ and then take out all the pesky wow, flutter ticks and pops. I'm told that gives it 'character'. Rubbish.

Much of what you get in popular recordings is more accurately described as multi channel mono from multi-track with artificial reverb. These can be very pleasing.

Yeah that's what I meant. But most sample libraries (including the expensive Vienna Symphonic) are recorded in True Stereo. How are you going to produce commercial style audio that people are used to listening to, with these unbalanced samples?